Local lore : Newsletter of the Topsfield Historical Society

Topsfield Historical Society
Local Lore Newsletter

Collection

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Local Lore

January, 201 1
Issue 76

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address fha.'

-) Email: webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org

P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

The Deadliest War

King Phillips War was the
deadliest war in American history
in terms of the proportion of people
killed to those in the general
population. An estimated death toll
of 800 and an estimated New
England population of 52,000
English colonists equates to 1,538
deaths per 100,000 people; far
more deadly per capita than the
American Revolution (180 deaths
per 100,000), the Civil War (857)
or World War II (206). The toll was
even greater on the Native
Americans.

In November 1675, a call went
out to the towns to ready recruits
^^major offensive against the
iWragansett Indians and
Topsfield sent a total of five men,
the largest group of men
impressed during the war. The
men assigned to fill the town’s
quota were; “Willyom Peabody,
Zachos Perkins, Robert Andros,
Jack Burton and Zacviah Curtis”.
Overall Essex County towns sent a
total of 357 men to this war and 52
were killed in action. Seven men
from Topsfield served during this
tumultuous time and two were
killed in action. Rowley lost 7 and
so did Ipswich. Every town in the
county except one lost at least one
man killed in battle. In Essex
County, Andover was the town
most exposed to Indian attack. It
must have been devastating to
these small towns to have such
high losses.

By May 1676, hundreds of
^^n and children were
rUcated to the relative safety of
tne coastal towns and were in
such dire need that a number of
churches in Dublin, Ireland sent a

ship with supplies to assist the war
victims. Money also came from
churches in England. Indian attacks
had destroyed many towns or led to
their abandonment during this nearly
forgotten time of our country’s history.

This information was largely obtained from
Kyle Zelner’s excellent book “Rabble In
Arms" available In the Topsfield Library

If you love school “snow days"
declared because roads are
clogged with snow, just imagine
what it was like to live in the 1700s
before there were plows, or even
many roads! People could be cut
off from town and from each other
for weeks!

February and March 1717

"The Great Snow of 1717"
b!anketed New England in a series
of four storms, leaving nearly four
feet on the ground and drifts up to
25 feet high.

January 1772

“The Washington and Jefferson
Snowstorm" is so named because it
trapped both men at their homes
with snow up to three feet deep
throughout Maryland and Virginia.

December 1778

Named after the Revolutionary War
troops stationed in Rhode Island,
drifts were reported to be 15 feet
high after this storm.

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow. . .

Did You Know

Joseph F. Smith, President of the
Mormon Church in Salt Lake City,
Utah was a member of the
Topsfield Historical Society for 16
years until his death in 1918?

There is a monument in his
memory and some of his ancestors
in the old section of the Pine Grove
Cemetery. There were five
generations of Smiths who lived in
Topsfield and their history goes
back to at least 1674 when Robert
Smith is documented as a (and
owner. In October, 1766 Captain
Samuel Smith was Topsfield’s
representative to the General Court
in regard to the matter of compen-
sation to the Boston riot sufferers.

Smith, along with Enos Knight and
John Gould were chosen delegates
to the famous Ipswich Convention
held on September 6 & 7, 1774
where resolutions were passed
protesting the oppressive acts of
Parliament. On October 11,1 774
Topsfield sent Smith to the
Provincial Congress as their
representative; clearly he was well
thought of by the selectmen. The
last of the five generations of
Smiths to live in Topsfield was
Joseph Smith’s father at 22
Boardman Lane. He later moved to
New Hampshire, then to Vermont
and finally to New York State
where his son founded his church.

Upcoming Events

Topsfield’s Antique Homes
and Their Residents
January 9, 3 PM
Bill Whiting

Northshore Highlights

January 30*, 3 PM
Jim McAllister

Kid’s

Comer

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Local Lore

February, 2011
Issue 77

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address (http://\vA\-w.topsfieldhistor\’.org) Email; webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org
P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

Local Connections to
Arnold’s Expedition to Quebec

Colonel Benedict Arnold led an
1100 man force of the Continental
Army on an expedition from
Cambridge, Massachusetts to the
British Province of Quebec in
September, 1775 as part of a two
pronged invasion. The other part
of the invasion force was led by
Richard Montgomery invading
Quebec from Lake Champlain. He
was later killed during the invasion.
This military operation had been
sanctioned by General
Washington and Arnold’s force
began as a march from Cambridge

£'buryport. The detachment
d overnight in what is now
rs Square and a monument
to that effect is now located at the
intersection of Maple and Conant
Streets. The force continued up
what is now Route 1A to board
seven ships to go up the
Kennebec River in what is now
Maine, portaging in leaky boats
ruining gunpowder and food. This
area is very swampy with many
lakes and streams and the
situation made worse by bad
weather and poor maps which
were woefully inaccurate, showing
the trip to be about 180 miles
when in reality it was nearer 350.
There is some evidence that these
maps were deliberately misdrawn
by a loyalist. By the time Arnold
reached Height of Land between
the Kennebec and Chaudiere
Rivers 1/3 of his men were lost,
f^^ent of the fast moving
^Bdiere led to the loss of more
SLnflDlies enroute to the St.
Lawrence River. On November 9th
they arrived across the river from
Quebec. Arnold was now down to

600 men; nevertheless he crossed the
river on November 13 and reached the
Plains of Abraham where he sent a
negotiator with a white flag demanding
surrender. The defending forces did not
surrender and Arnold’s men were forced
to retreat, basically following the Lake
Champlain route South taken earlier
Northward by Montgomery. Arnold was
later made a general in recognition of
his heroic efforts during this mission.

Tradition has it that that a detachment
of troops returning from Arnold’s
expedition camped on the lawn in front
of the house at Topsfield’s Witch Hill.

Topsfield History Resources

At a recent meeting. Bill Whiting reviewed
an ambitious project underway to docu-
ment Topsfield’s houses and buildings
and their residents’ genealogical profiles,
using digital technologies. This infor-
mation will be available at the Town
Library and over the Internet. Details on
two of the resources referenced are:

MAORIS contains detailed information on
200 Topsfield properties, accessible at
http://mhc-macris.net by selecting
“Topsfield” then “Next” then “Building”
then “Next”. Properties are listed by
street address. Several buildings may
appear for a single address. The data-
base can also be searched by street
address or year constructed.

Visit http://www.wardmaps.com/
viewasset.php?aid=202 to see detailed
maps of Topsfield, showing every
building and property owner as of 1910.
To access this information go to “Select
Topsfield Plate 01” for an index of
Topsfield’s maps. Zoom in and scroll to
find the map number of the location you
are interested in. Return to the first page
and select that map number.

If you are interested in knowing more
or want to participate in helping to
build this exciting project, contact Bill
at wwhiting@comcast.net.

Upcoming Events

The Beau Ideal of a Soldier:
Salem’s Zouave Civil War Militia
Ken Worthy
February 20, 3 PM

Annual Meeting (members only)
March 13, 3 PM

Kid's

Corner

Presidents Adams, Jefferson, and
Monroe all died on the 4th of July;
Coolidge was born on that day.

The tallest president was Lincoln at
6'4"; Madison, at 5'4", the shortest.

The most common religious
affiliation among presidents has
been Episcopalian, followed by
Presbyterian.

Eight presidents never attended
college; Washington, Jackson, Van
Buren, Taylor, Fillmore, Lincoln, A.
Johnson, and Cleveland. The
college that has the most
presidents as alumni (seven) is
Harvard: J. Adams, J. Q. Adams, T.
Roosevelt, F. Roosevelt, Rutherford
B. Hayes, J. F. Kennedy, and
George W. Bush.

The term "First Lady" was used first
in 1849 when President Zachary
Taylor called Dolley Madison "First
Lady" at her state funeral.

Eight presidents
were born British
subjects:

Washington,

J. Adams,

Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, J. Q.
Adams, Jackson, and W. Harrison.

http //WWW. littleknownfactsshow. com/presidents html

Local Lore

March, 201 1
Issue 78

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address (http://\vww.topsfieldhistorv.org) Email: webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org
P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

cll

Paul Revere’s Other Ride

Every school child has heard
of the “Midnight Ride of Paul
Revere” but not many have
heard of his other earlier ride
which helped the colonists
before the Revolution.

In 1774 A British ship, the
HMS Cancaeux was heading
for Portsmouth, New Hampshire
to reinforce Fort William and
Mary, because the fort had a
large supply of ammunition and
only six English soldiers
defending it. An American pilot
enticed the ship behind a shoal
and kept her there long enough
r the tide to go out and trap
er. It was a spring high tide,
the highest for several weeks
and when the following high tide
came in it was not high enough
for the Cancaeux to get past the
shoal. She remained trapped
there for days, giving Paul
Revere plenty of time to ride to
Portsmouth and warn the
colonists. They stormed the fort
on DecemberlS, 1774 and
captured muskets, cannons and
one hundred barrels of
gunpowder that eventually
found their way to Americans
who fought the Battle of Bunker
Hill June 17, 1775.

Unlike Revere’s midnight ride
no one has written a poem
about this ride; yet it played
perhaps an equally important
le in winning this country’s
dependence.

Editor

Contributor

Local Mill Sites

Farming was the chief occupation of
the early settlers and continued until
the last 75-100 years as
industrialization increased
dramatically. Corn was one of the
principal crops and its grinding
became an important industry. At first
the people of Topsfield had to carry
their corn or rye to a grist miii in
Ipswich but the road was poor and
they soon felt the need for their own
mill. Francis Peabody was given the
right to set up a grist mill in 1664 by
the town and he built it on Pye Brook.

(Continued on back)

Another Arnold Connection

An astute reader of February's Local
Lore column entitled "Local
Connections to Arnold's Expedition to
Quebec" observed that another local
connection can be made, through
Reverend Daniel Breck. Born in
Boston in 1748 and graduated from
Princeton in 1774 he was minister in
Topsfield from 1779 to 1788. During
the Revolutionary War he was a
chaplain and accompanied General
Richard Montgomery's army in the ill-
fated campaign in Quebec where he
ministered to the wounded and those
stricken with small pox. Directly after
his departure from the Topsfield
Church he preached the first sermon
in Marietta, Ohio on July 20, 1788.
Marietta is a quintessential New
England village transplanted into the
midwest wilderness by stalwart Essex
County settlers yearning for better
soil as a prime motivation for their
relocation. Reverend Breck went on
to Hartland, Vermont and served as
minister until his death on August 12,
1845 at the age of 97 years.

Upcoming Events

Annual Meeting (members only)
March 13, 3 PM

Kid’s

Corner

Clovers &
Shamrocks

The term "shamrock" derives from
the Irish word, seamrog, which
translates as "little clover." Since
there are many kinds of clovers -
and even more plants that can pass
as clovers, there is no "real McCoy"
that can claim to be the shamrock.

True clovers all have in common a
three leaf structure. The number 3
is significant in the Christian
religion, because of the doctrine of
the Trinity. Irish legend has it that
the missionary. Saint Patrick
demonstrated the principle behind
the Trinity using a shamrock,
pointing to its three leaflets united
by a common stalk.

Celtic dominance once extended
across Ireland and much of
Western Europe. It was the Druids
who elevated four leaf clovers to
the status of Celtic charms,
allegedly potent against malevolent
spirits. Their status as Celtic
charms is the origin of the modern
belief in their power to bestow good
luck. However, since “true clovers”
usually have three leaves, finding
four leaves is extremely rare; the
plants sold at your local florist that
boast a profusion of four leaf sprays
are not really clovers at all.

http:/7)andscap^nQ. about. ccyrVcs/lawns/a/dover^lawns. htm

Anne Barrett

Norm IsJer

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Local Mill Sites (continued)

In 1671 he was given permission to set up a saw mill on the same site. That site can still be seen just
beyond the Northwest comer of Route 1 and the Ipswich Road intersection with its pond extending
beyond present day North Street. This mill remained in the Peabody family for 164 years until 1820 when
it was sold, staying in operation untill 892.

In 1 667 William Averill and Daniel Boardman were granted the right to build a dam on Mile Brook
where a saw mill was erected around 1693-1695 by Nathaniel Averill. It was owned by the Averills until
1 835 when it was sold to Porter Bradstreet. The building burned in 1891 but a dam remains on the site
which is now owned by the Ipswich River Wildlife Sanctuary off Perkins Row.

Ephraim Dorman was allowed to dam Pye Brook before 1692 where he probably had a saw mill. The
Dormans lived off Boardman Lane and the records show they received damages from flooding caused by
Peabody’s dam.

Another early sawmill was Porter’s in the early 1700’s. Its site was near the Danvers-Middleton-
Topsfield line at the Southeast comer of the Porter farm using Nichols Brook as its power source. The
actual site is not completely clear from the records and may well be on the West side of Route 95 or
possibly covered over by that highway.

If you travel west on Lockwood Lane into Boxford you will pass the site of a saw mill built on Fish Brook
by Samuel Symonds before 1700. This site is most likely the first in Boxford. A new mill was built here
in 1 860; a time when all local saw mills were doing a thriving business sawing ship timber and teams of
oxen were busy hauling the timber to the Esses shipyards, a trip that took 1 Vi to 2 days.

All the old saw mills used an up and down frame saw which was six feet long and seven to eight inches
long on a side. The saw was hung in a large oak frame which worked up and down as a log on a c£irriage
advanced towards it. It sawed slowly but surely.

About 1738-1740, the Howletts built a grist mill on Howletts Brook, just off Camp Meeting Road slightly
North of Ipswich Road. One of the Howlett millstones now serves as a doorstep at the Gould Bam This
mill was also used later to saw wood in addition as grinding grains.

By 1869 Boston was the primary wool market for the country, basically because New England’s rivers
provided the required power which made it worth while to bring wool to the area for manufacture. Locally
the manufacture of woolen goods began on the Ipswich River in Hamilton at the Willowdale dam. A large
stone building was constmcted to house the mill and a dwelling house for workers was erected. It was
known as “Manning’s Mills” from the name of the builder. In 1864 this factory produced 55,000 pairs of
army and ribbed socks and other woolen goods such as blankets that were used by the Union Army in the
Civil War. As time went on a village of cottages, several stores and a school were built in the vicinity of
the mill. In 1864 the mill burned and was not rebuilt. What remains today are the foundation stones of the
factory and the sluiceway leading from the dam to the factory, a silent tribute to the early pioneers of this
area.

fVe thank Dow ’s History ofTopsfield and the Boxford Document Center as the primary sources of this information

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Local Lore

April, 201 1
Issue 79

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address (http://www.topsfieldhistorv.org ^ Email: webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org
P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

Irish/English War Assistance

In May 1676 during King Phillip’s
War, hundreds of women and
children were relocated to the
relative safety of the coastal towns
and were in such dire need that a
number of churches in Dublin,
Ireland sent a ship with supplies to
assist the war victims. Money also
came from churches in England.
Indian attacks had destroyed many
towns or led to their abandonment.

^Wai

Seven men from Topsfield served
during this tumultuous time and
two were killed in action. In
November 1675, a call went out to
^he towns to ready recruits for a
ijor offensive against the
"arragansett Indians and
Topsfield sent a total of five men,
the largest group of men
impressed during the war. The
men assigned to fill the town’s
quota were; “Williaom Peabody,
Zachos Perkins, Robert Andros,
Jack Burton and Zacviah Curtis”.
Overall Essex County towns sent a
total of 357 men to this war and 52
were killed in action.

STRAY COW

Strayed from the Neck Pasture in
Marblehead, October 16th, a small
red cow, about 9 years old, has
small crocked horns, her head
rather darker than her body.
Whoever has taken up or may find
said cow, and will return her or
give notice thereof to Mr. Moses
Gould, at Topsfield, or to the
subscriber, shall be suitably
k rewarded, and all necessary
Lharges paid by Joseph Roundey.

Marblehead, Nov. 6.

Salem Gazette, Nov. 10, 1797.

Annual Meeting Notes

The Society’s 1 17^^ annual meeting
was held on Sunday, March IS'^
followed by a delicious potiuck
supper. The most important
development at the meeting was the
announcement by President Norm
Isler that, after being in the long
range plan for seven years, work will
begin this Spring on the custodial
dwelling unit in back of the Capen
House.

The addition of this dwelling unit is
one element of a three part Capen
House Preservation Project. It has
long been recognized that one of the
major hazards to the house is the fact
that the property is vacant, leaving it
vulnerable to vandalism. The other
two parts consist of adding a fire
suppression system to work in
conjunction with the existing fire
detection system, and returning the
house to its original 1683 config-
uration by eliminating the rear
stairwell and chimney that will no
longer be needed. Cost of this major
project has been estimated at
$382,636 with some of this amount
coming from the Society’s capital
account, some from private foun-
dations and some from the member-
ship as well as the community.

There will be more information
forthcoming as both the work and the
fundraising proceeds. This project is
the largest undertaking in the
Society’s history following the
acquisition of the Capen House in
1913 and the Gould Barn’s
renovation in 1996.

Editor Contributor

Norm Isler

Upcoming Events

Digging Up your Family Roots

April 15, 7;30PM
Marcia Melnyk, Wendy Thatcher

Dinner at the White House

May 20, 7:30 PM
Judy Bernstein

Kid’s
Corner

While no one is
certain, one populai
theory on the origin
of April Fool’s Day is that when the
western world switched from the
Julian calendar to the Gregorian
calendar, the new year celebrations
changed from April 1 to January 1 .
Those who could be tricked into
believing April 1 was still the proper
day to celebrate the new year
earned the title of April fools. To this
end, French peasants would
unexpectedly drop in on neighbors
on that day in an effort to confuse
them into thinking they were
receiving a New Year's call.

In Scotland, an April fool is called
an April "gowk" — Scottish for
cuckoo, an emblem of simpletons.

In England, a fool is called a gob,
gawby orgobby. In France, the
victim of a hoax is called a "poisson
d'avril," an April fish. ("April fish"
refers to a young fish, thus one
easily caught.) The French delight
in shouting "Poisson d'Avril!" in
announcing their foolery.

http://www.snopes.com/holidays/aprilfools/origins.asp

Anne Barrett

910 J IbooJ

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Local Lore

May, 2011
Issue 80

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address (httpi/Avww.topsFieldhiston'.org) Email: webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org
P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

The Sub That Sank a Train

It was after 4 AM on July 1 8th,

1 945 off the coast of Karafuto,
Japan when Commander Eugene
Fluckey peered through his
periscope and saw a rail line
running along the enemy coastline.
The U.S.S. Barb had completed 11
war patrols before this one, four of
them under his command and had
scored direct torpedo hits on six
enemy warships in Mamkwan
Harbor in only 30 feet of water.

The commander had received the
Congressional Medal of Honor for
this heroic patrol and should have

#ned over command to another
pper after his four patrols but he
managed to strike a deal with his
Admiral to make one more trip.

The rail line itself would not be a
problem. A shore patrol could go
ashore under cover of darkness to
plant the explosives- one of the
sub’s 55 pound scuttling charges.
As the commander and his officers
thought about it they came up with
the idea of blowing up not only the
rail line but one of the frequent
trains that shuttled supplies to the
Japanese war machine. Thus the
problem... how to detonate the
charge at the moment the train
passed without endangering the
shore party. An exciting new idea
came to them; instead of having a
crewman on shore to trigger the
explosives why not let the train
blow itself up? By rigging a micro
switch to complete the detonator
circuit, the sagging of the rail
^^der the weight of the train would
(continued on back)

Editor

Anne Barrett

Contributor

Norm Isler

The following appeared in the Salem
Gazette, written by Charles H.

Holmes to advertise the sale of his
property, now known as the Emerson
Center on Topsfield Common.

For Sale

Whoever wants a country seat
Removed from summer’s dust and

heat,

With a wide common right between
The road and house in living green,
Shaded by stately ashen trees
And shut out from noxious breeze.

Let him leave the country road
And step across to my abode,

A view of which will here be seen
A photographic view I mean.

Terms easy to the man who’d buy.

At any rate one can but try.

C. H. Holmes
Topsfield, Mass.

May 25. 1885

In 1886 the Congregational Parish
purchased it for a parsonage.

Dues are Due!

Please send them in ASAP!

Open Pcsiticn

If you love flowers and herbs, we
have the perfect job for you! Joyce
Bergsten is retiring as head of the
Priscilla Capen Herb Society and
we need someone to take over the
position. This is an interesting and
Ln activity that is crucial to the
continuation of the herb garden.

To learn more please contact
Joyce at 978 887 8637.

Please won’t you help?

Upcoming Events

Dinner at the White House

May 20. 7:30 PM
Judy Bernstein

Strawberry Festival

June 11, 10 AM to 4 PM

Kid’s
Corner '

Lacrosse is the oldest sport in North
America, dating back to the 1400s.
In the 1600s Jesuit missionary Jean
de Brebeuf saw the Hyron Indians
playing it and was intrigued by the
stick the Indians used, likening it to
the "crosier" carried at religious
ceremonies by a bishop. Thus, the
name la crosse evolved, and this
later became simply "lacrosse."

Indian lacrosse was a mass game
and often teams were made up of
one hundred to one thousand
braves on each side. The goals
were usually five-hundred yards to
one-half mile apart. On occasion,
the goals cculd be separated by
several miles. Usually a score was
recorded by hitting a designated
rock or tree with a ball. Some tribes
used goal posts six to nine feet
apart, and the ball had to pass
between them for a score.

Games lasted from sunrise to
sundown stretching over the course
of two or three days. Lacrosse
toughened braves for actual
combat. There were even times

yat+iwb pirfyvsw UctwwwH

two tribes to settle their differences.

WWW. lax history, com

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The Sub That Sank a Train

(continued from front)

V

do the job. Now all that remained to do was go ashore and set up the charge. There was no shortage of
volunteers; one criteria set by the Captain being no married men and another being half the men had to
have been boy scouts. What was needed was some cloud cover to darken the moon and a pick and
shovels to bury the charge. These tools were fabricated in the engine room For four days the saboteurs
built the microswitch and watched the weather. At midnight on July 23rd the Barb crept within 950 yards
of the shoreline. Slowly and quietly small boats were lowered to the water and the 8 saboteurs paddled
ashore. 25 minutes later they were on the Japanese homeland. One man was assigned to examine a
nearby water tower which turned out to be a watch tower... an occupied watch tower! Fortunately the
sentry was sleeping and the crewman quietly withdrew and warned his raiding party.

Watching from the deck of the Barb Commander Fluckey watited for the flashlight signal from the
beach announcing the departure of the shore party. He had skillfully and daringly^ guide the Barb within
600 yards of the beach with less than 6 feet of water beneath the sub’s keel. The shore party’s two boats
were only halfway back when the sub’s machine gunner yelled “Captain! A train coming up the tracks!’’
The Commander yelled through a megaphone “Paddle like the devil!’’ knowing full well they wouldn’t
reach the Barb before the train hit the micro switch. The darkness was shattered by a brilliant light and
the roar of the explosion. Five minutes later the saboteurs were lifted to the deck by their exuberant
comrades as the Barb moved at two knots towards water deep enough to allow it to submerge.

The story of the saboteurs from the U.S.S. Barb is one of those unique, little known stories of WWIl. It
becomes even more important when one realizes that the eight sailors conducted the ONLY WWIl
GROUND COMBAT OPERATION on the Japanese homeland. ^

Footnote: Commander Fluckey retired from the Navy as a Rear Admiral and was awarded four Navy
Crosses in addition to his Medal of Honor. He had graduated from the Naval Academy in 1935 and liveo
to age 93, passing away in 2007.

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Local Lore

June, 201 1
Issue 8 1

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address (http://www.topsfieldhistorv.org^ Email; webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org
P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

Topsfield During the Civil War

At a town meeting in 1861 the
residents of Topsfield resolved to
appropriate funds and recruit men
for National Guard. Topsfield
furnished 1 1 3 men for the war,
which were six more than required.
Five were commissioned officers.
Most of the men enlisted gave
their occupation as either farmers
or shoemakers. The ladies of
Topsfield worked heartily in the
cause and forwarded to the army
money, clothing and hospital
supplies.

In April, 1861 the news of the firing

In Fort Sumter reached town
^out 5 o’clock in the afternoon, a
lilitia officer bringing it over the
road from Salem, and three men,
James Wilson, David Casey and
Edward Otis Gould dropped their
tools and started at once to the
rendezvous at Salem. James
Wilson was the only one of the
three who had a uniform and
proper equipment and was
accepted on the first call.

A training camp named Camp
Stanton was established at the
Southeast corner of Washington
Street and Lockwood Lane for
training of locals, recruits in close
order drill, firing of arms and other
military disciplines. No trace of this
camp exists today.

By the will of Dr. Justin Allen, M.D.
former President of the Topsfield

I' ^storical Society, who died in
^08, $8,000 was given to the

fe<tttor (ck)ntrtbutor

Anne Barrett Norm Isler

town “to erect a monument suitable to
commemorate the lives of the citizens
of Topsfield who enlisted in the U.S.
Army in defense of the country in the
Great Rebellion of 1861-1865”. The
committee formed to carry out this
objective selected a design created
by Mrs. Theo Ruggles Kitson entitled
“The Wounded Color Sergeant”. This
bronze statute was dedicated in front
of the Library on July 25, 1914.

Sadly, this inspirational, privately
commissioned work of art had, by the
end of the 20th century, become
badly tarnished, darkened by green
mold and pollutants. It was in
desperate need of conservation. The
Topsfield Historical Society
recognized the need and utilizing the
remnant of funds left from Dr. Allen’s
original bequest, undertook a
professional refurbishment of the
memorial. It remains today a fitting
and beautifully restored tribute to all
those who represented Topsfield
during the Civil War.

REMINDER

Please send your contribution in to
the Preservation Project Capital
Campaign in support of the Capen
House dwelling unit constructicn
and fire suppression system
installation. We need you!

Thank You New Volunteers!

We are pleased to announce that
Renee Pagnani will be taking over
the Priscilla Capen Herb Society
from retiring Joyce Bergsten and
Nikki Larson will be maintaining

♦Eio Jordon. Wo oouWn't ourv'jvo

without volunteers! Thank you!

Upcoming Events

strawberry Festival

June 11, 10 AM to 4 PM

Doll Tea

August 31, 2 to 4 PM

Kid’s Corner

I LOVE ketchup, and
as I was enjoying my
passion the other day on some
French fries, I wondered how this
fabulous invention came to be.

The word ketchup is derived from
the Chinese ke-tsiap, a pickled fish
sauce. It made its way to Malaysia
where it became kechap and ketjap
in Indonesia.

Seventeenth century English sailors
first discovered the delights of this
Chinese condiment and brought it
west. Ketchup was first mentioned
in print around 1690.

The Chinese version is more akin to
a soy or Worcestershire sauce. It
gradually went through various
changes, particularly with the
addition of tomatoes in the 1700s.
By the nineteenth century, ketchup
was also known as tomato soy.
Early tomato versions were much
thinner in consistency.

F. & J. Heinz Company began
selling tomato ketchup in 1876. By
the end of the nineteenth century,
tomato ketchup was the primary
type of ketchup in the United
States, and the decriptor of tomato
was gradually dropped. -Editor

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Local Lore

September, 201 1
Issue 82

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address (httD://\v^vv. topslleldhistorv.org) Email: webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org
P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

Brigham Young’s Topsfield Ancestry

Communicated by Charles Tapley

It is well known that Joseph Smith,
the founder of Mormonism,
descended from a Topsfield
ancestor, his father having been
born here on July 12, 1771.
Brigham Young, the second
President of the Mormon Church,
could also claim a Topsfield
ancestry, through his mother,
Abigail Howe, a great-great
granddaughter of Francis
Peabody, whose home was
located about a quarter of a mile
from the Smith house*, so that the
ancestors of these two leaders of
the church were near neighbors.

line of descent of Brigham
^Phg from the settler Francis
Peabody is as follows, viz;

Lieut. Francis Peabody, had
Mary Peabody, who married
John Death. They had
Hepzibah Death, who married
David Howe. They had
Thankful Howe, who married
Peter Howe. They had
Phineas Howe, who married
Susannah Goddard. They had
Abigail Howe, who married
John Young. They had
Brigham Young.

This information comes from Vol.
XXX-1933 of the Society’s
Historical Collections.

* The Smith house was located at
22 Boardman Lane while Francis
Peabody’s dwelling was near his
mill which is close to what is now
the intersection of Ipswich Road
Route One.

Ri

^Etpr
Anne Barrett

Contributor

Norm Isler

ifarm

On Sunday, July 10, nearly 150 people
attended an open farm day in Boxford.
The event took place at ifarm, a rare,
intact Federal Era farmstead. The day
included tours of restored structures,
local beverages from Mercury Brewing
and a discussion by Tom Hubka. The
event was organized and sponsored in
part by Ben Nutter of Topsfield and
Arron Sturgis of Berwick, Maine. Ben
and Arron have been collaborating over
the past two years with ifarm owner and
Boxford resident Chris Barensfeld. Her
goal is to reestablish a 19th century
working farmstead.

In the restored dairy barn, complete
with barn swallows, Tom Hubka, author
of “Big House, Little House, Back House
Barn: The Connected Farm Buildings of
New England”, spoke about the
connected farm-house architecture that
is unique to a limited region in northern
New England.

Attendees were asked to make a
donation to either the Topsfield or
Boxford Historical Societies. Thanks to
their generosity, $700 was raised.

~Ben Nutter

Parson Capen House Goes Public

WGBH’s This Old House program
recently came to the Capen House,
where a short segment was filmed for an
October/November show, hosted by
Norm Abram. The series features an old
1720 Bedford, MA property that is being
remodeled, and the Society was asked to
be part of the reconstruction research,
offering key information on Early
Period/Early Georgian architecture that
will be highlighted in the show, -bhi whiting

Upcoming Events

Facebook, Twitter and Topsfield
Post Cards of the Last Century

Joe larocci

September 16, 7:30 PM

Lake Winnepesaukee Boat Tour
and Lunch, Wolfeboro, NH

September 20, Departs 8 AM

i 040s Radio Show: A.meMa Earhart
October 14, 7:30 PM

REMINDER

Please send your contribution in to the
Preservation Project Capital Campaign
in support of the Capen House
dwelling unit construction and fire
suppression system installation.

Your contribution is still needed!!!

football in the

is generally regarded as November
6, 1869, when teams from Rutgers
and Princeton Universities met for
the first intercollegiate football
game. In early games, there were
20 players to a team and football
still more closely resembled rugby
than modern football. Concern over
the increasing brutality of the game
led to its ban by some colleges.

Nearly 180 serious injuries and 18
deaths had been reported from the
brutal mass plays that had become
common practice. So in 1905,
President Theodore Roosevelt
called upon Harvard, Princeton, and
Yale to save the sport from demise.
Subsequently, many reforms and
rule changes helped save the future
of football. www.hornetfootball.org

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Local Lore

November, 201 1
Issue 83

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address (httD://www.toDsfieldhistorv.org) Email: webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org
P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

History of Hood’s Pond

This beautiful body of water lies
about 2/3 in Ipswich and 1/3 in
Topsfield. In the 1600’s it was
known as Baker’s Pond and later
Pritchards Pond. It is the source of
water flow into Pye brook where
Topsfield’s first mill used to grind
grist. At town meeting on March 4,
1664 residents voted to give Lieut.
Francis Peabody liberty to set up a
grist mill and to flow so much of
the town’s water as needed The
pond covers about 70 acres and is
200 rods in length (one rod equals
16 feet) and has various widths.
Its depth varies to 20 feet (now 17
feet in 2010). Its only inlet is a
'2^11 stream at its eastern end
^Hts outlet is at the western end
n^r the house of Salmon D.

Wood where four generations of
Hoods lived- which is likely where
the pond’s current name comes
from. Near this residence is an
excellent spring issuing clear
sparkling cold water forming a
rivulet which, after running a few
rods, flows into the pond outlet
which then flows until at length it
divides into two streams, each of
which have enough water for mills
before their junctions with the
Ipswich River. (Note: These two
streams are Pye and Hewlett
brooks both of which had mills).

Pickerel and perch are the most
popular kinds of fish taken from
these waters with an occasional
pickerel over 5 pounds. In August
1879 the Topsfield Fish Committee
issued rules and regulations which
continued on back

itor Contributor

Anne Barrett Norm Isler

Capen House Preservation Project

A milestone was met on
Thursday, September 22 with the
start of the custodial dwelling unit
framing. The site and driveway had
been final graded to facilitate
delivery of the first major lumber
delivery on September 19. All
underground utility trenches have
been dug, six conduits (2 power, 2
telephone and 2 security) and one
water line were laid and the
trenches refilled with the exception
of the gas line which is awaiting the
gas company. The basement was
finished several weeks ago
including insulation, water proofing,
and stucco on that portion above
ground.

Because of ledge encountered
during foundation excavation, as a
precautionary measure a layer of
crushed stone was laid down
before pouring the concrete floor
and a ventilation pipe installed
leading underneath the basement
floor to facilitate ventilating the area
in case of any radon gas. Ledge
was again encountered while laying
the 4 inch water main for the
sprinkler system which required
jackhammering by hand as it was
felt to be too close to the fragile
Capen House to use the backhoe's
large jack hammer, (continued on back)

Our Sympathy

We are saddened to report the loss
of Jack Reid, husband of long time
volunteer Carol. Jack passed away in
September. Carol, as co-secretary,
issues our newsletters and is a
dedicated member. Donations in
Jack's memory can be made to
Hospice of the North Shore & Greater
Boston, 75 Sylvan St. Suite B-102,
Danvers, MA 01923.

Upcoming Events

Short Skirts, Oh My!

Evolution of the Women’s Movement
Anne Barrett
November IS'^’, 7:30 PM

Thanksgiving Open House
Costumed Interpreters, Treats

Thanksgiving, 10 AM - 12 PM

Kid’s Corner

by Hannah Barrett

Many people look at owls as
beautiful insect eating birds that
can spin their heads around in a
complete rotation, but they were
not always looked upon this way.
The owl is a popular Halloween
image. In Medieval Europe, owls
were thought to be witches, and
to hear an owl's call meant
someone was about to die. In
ancient Greece, Owls were a
favorite creature of Athena; they
were looked at as holy, and were
encouraged to live in Greek
temples. Years later, from the
Roman perspective, Owls were
looked at as evil creatures from
the underworld. People believed
that witches would transform into
owls and fly through the
darkness. So be on the lookout
on Halloween night!

(

(

(

Winnipesaukee Trip

Tuesday, September 20th
was an overcast day but it
did not dampen the
enthusiasm of the 46
Individuals who made the
*ne day trip to the lake
and the town of Wolfboro
"The Oldest Summer
Resort in America". A
narrated tour aboard the
Winnipesaukee Belle was
followed by a bountiful
lunch at the historic
Wolfeboro Tavern. This
was the first Society field
trip in several years and,
based upon the response,
there may be more trips.

Capen Project {continued from front)

The sprinkler system installation is about 50% complete with care being
taken to minimize its appearance. Floor holes that were left when the steam
heating system was removed years ago are being utilized for the system
risers. After the distribution piping is installed the control unit will be
assembled in the dwelling unit basement and connected to the 4 inch water
main.

Although not part of the preservation project, the two Capen bulkhead
doors in poor condition were rebuilt as a maintenance task by volunteers
during the Saturday, September 17 work day. Another task that will be done
by volunteers- this time the Cub Scouts- is the rebuilding of the Herb Garden
fence. The existing fence is in poor condition and will be totally replaced
under the direction of Director Bill Whiting.

As of September 26th our fund raising stood at $1 17,330 with the latest
gift coming from the Priscilla Capen Herb Society. The rejection of our grant
applications by three major bank charitable foundations - TDBank, The
Institution for Savings and Danversbank - has been a major disappointment.
It has been speculated that our large net worth, built up in anticipation of this
project, may have played a role in the rejections. The funds we have
received thus far have all come from our members, the community at large
and local businesses Please send in your tax deductible contribution today!

History of Hood’s Pond (continued from front)

defined the fishing season from August 1st to March 1st and limited the catch to ten pounds or five hours of
ishing time, whichever came first. . Only a single hook and line could be used and the fish could not be sold.

In Summer this pond was a popular resort of young people for purposes of bathing and fishing. It also had
an abundance of white pond lilies. In July 2010 a population of water chestnut (trapa natans) was
rediscovered growing in the pond. This invasive plant from China was the second known in the Ipswich
watershed and was pulled up by hand for the second year in a row. It will take a few more years to complete
this restoration effort.

In Winter the pond’s surface is generally frozen smooth and having no large springs within its borders ice
becomes solid thus rendering it an excellent place for ice skating. Ice fishing for pickerel is also popular. The
ice used to freeze 14 to18 inches thick and considerable quantities were taken for Summer use. When the
Danvers and Georgetown Railroad was being planned around 1850 the original intention was to have it pass
close by the pond so that harvested ice could be shipped by rail; however the route was changed away from
the pond much to the dismay of the Topsfield stockholders. In the Fall large quantities of geese and ducks
light in the pond on their migratory routes.

Two known fatalities occurred on these waters prior to1869. One was a woman who was fishing in a leaky
boat, her mind was apparently so intent on her good luck in taking fish that she neglected to baii the water out
until it was too late and it sank carrying her with it. The other was a man named Perley from Boxford who was
also fishing from a boat with a companion named Chapman when by accident it was upset. Perley could swim
but Chapman could not. After a hard struggle Perley succeeded in getting Chapman upon the boat which lay
on the water bottom up. He then told Chapman to remain there quietly until he could swim ashore and obtain
a raft with which he would come out and take him ashore. Perley then started to swim ashore with heavy
boots and an overcoat but his feet became entangled with his fishing line and within a few rods from shore he
became exhausted. One of the Hood family, seeing the danger he was in, rushed into the water as far as he
dared, hoping to encourage and stimulate him not to give up but to persevere a little farther to where his feet
would touch bottom but Perley’s strength was gone, he could not rally and, almost within reach of help, he
erished.

The pond now has a private beach and offers swimming lessons from ages 4 to Junior Lifesaving.
Membership is available to all Topsfield residents and non-residents as well.

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Local Lore

December, 201 1
Issue 84

The Topsfield Historical Society Newsletter

WEB Address ('httD://ww\\'.topsfieldhistorv.org) Email: webmaster@topsfieldhistory.org
P.O. Box 323, Topsfield, Massachusetts 01983

Fair Topsfield

Still are the hills of Topsfield fair,
Her valleys rich in beauty rare
As when my childish feet first trod
Her varied ways and knew each
sod!

Since then the world I 've journeyed
‘round

And joyously my pulses bound
As glistening spire and peaceful
farms

Smile from the hills ’ encircling
arms

And though before my yearning

I)eyes

’Regretfully the bright day dies
Yet as the glow fades from the hills
A calmer light the valley fills,

So sweet in memory shall abide
The comfort of the eventide
O early home forever dear
Blessed the fate that bought me
here!

Towne Family Historic Marker

In September a sign was unveiled
at the corner of South Main Street
and Salem Road commemorating
the location of the Towne Family
Homestead. The event was
sponsored by the Towne Family
Association and the Topsfield Main
Street Foundation. The society
helped with the sign wording which
provides a brief history of the early
Towne settlers.

Local Civil War Facts

31 men from Topsfield died from
wounds, disease or starvation related
to the Civil War. This was at a time
when the town's population was only
about 1290, so it must have had a
profound effect on the town during
and after the war.

— Nehemiah Cleveland, 1875

Remember...

. . .to send in your tax deductible
donation to the Capen House
Preservation fund before the
end of the year. We need your
help!

Editor Contributors

Anne Barrett Norm Isler

Hannah Barrett

Private Michael R. Glispin died in
Alexandria, VA on July 22, 1865 at
age 18 and although he lived in South
Groveland he enlisted in Topsfield's
quota. He is buried in Arlington
National Cemetery and is believed to
be the only soldier from Topsfield who
is buried there.

Ladies of Topsfield collected about
$500.00, clothing and medical
supplies for the Grand Army of the
Republic.

tisppy tioliddys & tiappy New year!

Upcoming Events

Holiday Party

(members only)
December 1 1'^, 3 PM

History of Pleasure Island

January 15*^, 3 PM

Kid’s Corner

by Hannah Barrett

If you celebrate
Christmas you are
probably pretty used
to having a Christmas
tree every year, with it
glowing lights, the many ornaments
that each have a different memory
behind them, and the sparkling star
on top. But if you think about it,
getting a whole tree from outside,
putting it in your living room and
covering it with various decorations
is kind of an odd thought. So how
did this Christmas tradition come to
be? Well, about one thousand
years ago in Germany St. Boniface,
a man who converted the Germans
to Christianity, is said to have once
come across a group of Pagans
(people with no religion, or worship
plants) They were gathered around
an oak tree worshiping it. In anger
St. Boniface cut down the oak tree.
And from where the oak tree once
stood grew a pine tree. St. Boniface
took this as a sign of the Christian
faith. But it was not until the 16th
century that pine trees were
brought indoors for the celebration
of Christmas. I can’t wait to see the
glimmer of lights and ornaments on
Christmas trees this year! Happy
Holidays!

...

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